Body of Bradenton woman found near Terra Ceia Preserve State Park

MANATEE -- The Manatee County Sheriff's Office is investigating a homicide after a body of a woman was found Tuesday afternoon near Terra Ceia Preserve State Park.

At about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, deputies responded to the 8600 block of Bishop Harbor Road, near Frog Creek, after receiving a 911 call reporting a body being found.

Jordan Finlon, of Bradenton, 23, was later identified by the sheriff's office.

"Two motorists just out driving in the area, they noticed the body right on the side of the road," sheriff's office spokesman Dave Bristow said. "Pretty quick it became evident that we were going to be working a homicide."

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Investigators said there is evidence of foul play, and they are treating the case as a homicide.

Members of the Manatee County Homicide Investigative Unit responded to the scene to take over the investigation. Assistant State Attorney Art Brown, who prosecutes murder cases, was also at the scene.

"We had a idea of who she was," Bristow said.

Investigators were able to positively identify her through a tattoo, speaking with family, and looking at her driver's license photo.

An autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death.

The sheriff's office would not confirm whether drugs were believed to involved.

Jordan Finlon, the woman who was found dead in Manatee, posted on her Facebook a week before looking for a place to stay.

Earlier in the afternoon, police in Bradenton responded near the intersection of Eighth Street East and 12th Avenue East to reports of gunshots and found Karl John Tuxford hanging out of the driver side of a Jeep dead.

Bristow said detectives had not ruled whether the two homicides were in any way related.

Anyone with information can call the sheriff's office at 941-747-3011 or Crime Stoppers at 866-634-TIPS.

Jessica De Leon, Herald law enforcement reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7049. You can follow her on Twitter @JDeLeon1012.